Today, Im going to use economics to dissect The Fairys Mistake by Gail Carson Levine: 87 short pages that can be read in an hour. Levine writes charming fairy tales. Ella Enchanted, probably her most famous, is about how the use of power leads to unintended consequences, and why liberty is to be desired above all else but requires hard work and bravery to attain. (Thats the book. I havent seen the movie and cant vouch for it.) The Fairys Mistake is also about unintended consequences. In the classic fairy tale, the naturally good, sweet young maiden freely provides some service to an old hag who turns out to be a powerful being in disguise and rewards the maidens service handsomely. An envious sister hears of the maidens good fortune and tries to duplicate the feat, but her natural selfishness botches the job and she receives her comeuppance. In Levines version of the tale, the fairy attempts to reward the first sister, Rosella, with unlimited riches. Every time she speaks, random precious and semi-precious gemstones fall out of her mouth. The twin sister, Myrtle, is rewarded with foulness. Every time she speaks, disreputable creatures crawl out of her mouth: spiders, snakes, frogs, insects, and worms. Unfortunately, the fairys gifts do not have the consequences that she intended.

This part of the ending tied the analogy up well "So, here we have the twin fourth branches of government. The first is the Federal Reserve, which promises to end our monetary problems and provide prosperity to all; while actually inflating our currency, and distorting our marketsbut its okay because the plunder is divided between governmental opulence and largess. "

Ella of Frell (Anne Hathaway) is given the "gift of obedience" by a fairy, only to realize that it's more of a curse because it could separate her from her true love, Prince Charmont (Hugh Dancy). Will Ella manage to conjure a "cure" that enables her to live happily ever after? Cary Elwes and Minnie Driver co-star in this fantastical comedy based on the Newberry Award-winning children's book by Gail Carson Levine.

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posted on 05/20/2012 4:54:19 PM PDT
by upchuck
(Need is not an acceptable lifestyle choice; dependent is not a career. ~ Dr. Tim Nerenz)

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